Description

Barbiturates (bar-BI-tyoo-rates)belong to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness). They act on the brain and CNS to produce effects that may be helpful or harmful. This depends on the individual patient's condition and response and the amount of medicine taken.

Some of the barbiturates may be used before surgery to relieve anxiety or tension. In addition, some of the barbiturates are used as anticonvulsants to help control seizures in certain disorders or diseases, such as epilepsy. Barbiturates may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

The barbiturates have been used to treat insomnia (trouble in sleeping); but if they are used regularly (for example, every day) for insomnia, they are usually not effective for longer than 2 weeks. The barbiturates have also been used to relieve nervousness or restlessness during the daytime. However, the barbiturates have generally been replaced by safer medicines for the treatment of insomnia and daytime nervousness or tension.

If too much of a barbiturate is used, it may become habit-forming.

Barbiturates should not be used for anxiety or tension caused by the stress of everyday life.

These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral

Amobarbital

Capsules (U.S. and Canada)

Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Aprobarbital

Elixir (U.S.)

Butabarbital

Capsules (U.S.)

Elixir (U.S.)

Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Mephobarbital

Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Metharbital

Tablets (Other countries)

Pentobarbital

Capsules (U.S. and Canada)

Elixir (U.S.)

Phenobarbital

Capsules (U.S.)

Elixir (U.S. and Canada)

Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Secobarbital

Capsules (U.S. and Canada)

Secobarbital and Amobarbital

Capsules (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral

Amobarbital

Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Pentobarbital

Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Phenobarbital

Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Secobarbital

Injection (U.S.)

Rectal

Pentobarbital

Suppositories (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For barbiturates, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to barbiturates. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Barbiturates have been shown to increase the chance of birth defects in humans. However, this medicine may be needed in serious diseases or other situations that threaten the mother's life. Be sure you have discussed this and the following information with your doctor:

Taking barbiturates regularly during pregnancy may cause bleeding problems in the newborn infant. In addition, taking barbiturates regularly during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause the baby to become dependent on the medicine. This may lead to withdrawal side effects in the baby after birth.

One study in humans has suggested that barbiturates taken during pregnancy may increase the chance of brain tumors in the baby.

Barbiturates taken for anesthesia during labor and delivery may reduce the force and frequency of contractions of the uterus; this may prolong labor and delay delivery.

Use of barbiturates during labor may cause breathing problems in the newborn infant.

Breast-feeding—Barbiturates pass into the breast milk and may cause drowsiness, slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, or troubled breathing in babies of nursing mothers taking this medicine.

Children—Unusual excitement may be more likely to occur in children, who are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of barbiturates.

Older adults—Confusion, mental depression, and unusual excitement may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of barbiturates.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases 2 different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking a barbiturate, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Adrenocorticoids (cortisone-like medicine) or

Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or

Carbamazepine or

Corticotropin (ACTH)—Barbiturates may decrease the effects of these medicines

Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness)—Using these medicines with barbiturates may result in increased CNS depressant effects

Divalproex sodium or

Valproic acid—Using these medicines with barbiturates may change the amount of either medicine that you need to take

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) containing estrogens—Barbiturates may decrease the effectiveness of these oral contraceptives, and you may need to change to a different type of birth control

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of barbiturates. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Alcohol abuse (or history of) or

Drug abuse or dependence (or history of)—Dependence on barbiturates may develop

Anemia (severe) or

Asthma (history of), emphysema, or other chronic lung disease or

Type 2 diabetes mellitus or

Hyperactivity (in children) or

Mental depression or

Overactive thyroid or

Porphyria (or history of)—Barbiturates may make the condition worse

Kidney disease or

Liver disease—Higher blood levels of barbiturates may result, increasing the chance of side effects

Pain—Barbiturates may cause unexpected excitement or mask important symptoms of more serious problems

Underactive adrenal gland—Barbiturates may interfere with the effects of other medicines needed for this condition

Proper Use of This Medicine

For patients taking the extended-release capsule or tablet form of this medicine:

These capsules or tablets are to be swallowed whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.

For patients using the rectal suppository form of this medicine:

To insert the suppository: First remove the foil wrapper and moisten the suppository with cold water. Lie down on your side and use your finger to push the suppository well up into the rectum.

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor . Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much is used, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence).

If you think this medicine is not working properly after you have taken it for a few weeks, do not increase the dose . To do so may increase the chance of your becoming dependent on the medicine. Instead, check with your doctor.

If you are taking this medicine for epilepsy, it must be taken every day in regularly spaced doses as ordered by your doctor in order for it to control your seizures . This is necessary to keep a constant amount of medicine in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses.

Dosing—The dose of barbiturates will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of barbiturates. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules, tablets, or teaspoonfuls of elixir that you take, the number of suppositories you use, or the number of injections you receive depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking barbiturates .

For amobarbital

For oral dosage form (tablets or capsules):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—65 to 200 milligrams (mg) at bedtime.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—50 to 300 mg, taken in smaller doses during the day.

Children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.9 mg per pound) of body weight taken three times a day.

For sedation before surgery:

Adults—200 mg taken one to two hours before surgery.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kg (0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight, taken before surgery. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg.

For sedation during labor:

Adults—200 to 400 mg every one to three hours if needed. However, the total dose is usually not more than 1000 mg.

For injection dosage form:

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—65 to 200 mg, injected into a muscle or vein.

Children up to 6 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mg per kg (0.9 to 1.4 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle.

Children 6 years of age and over—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 3 mg per kg (0.9 to 1.4 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle, or 65 to 500 mg injected into a vein.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—30 to 50 mg two or three times a day, injected into a muscle or vein.

For sedation before surgery:

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 3 to 5 mg per kg (1.4 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight or 65 to 500 mg per dose, injected into a vein.

For control of seizures:

Adults and children 6 years of age and over—65 to 500 mg per dose, injected into a vein.

Children up to 6 years of age—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 3 to 5 mg per kg (1.4 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle or vein.

For aprobarbital

For oral dosage form (elixir):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—40 to 160 milligrams (mg) at bedtime.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—40 mg three times a day.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For butabarbital

For oral dosage form (elixir or tablets):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—50 to 100 milligrams (mg) at bedtime.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—15 to 30 mg three or four times a day.

Children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.9 mg per pound) of body weight three times a day.

For sedation before surgery:

Adults—50 to 100 mg sixty to ninety minutes before surgery.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kg (0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg.

For mephobarbital

For oral dosage form (tablets):

For daytime sedation:

Adults—32 to 100 milligrams (mg) three or four times a day.

Children—16 to 32 mg three or four times a day.

For control of seizures:

Adults—200 to 600 mg a day, taken in smaller doses during the day.

Children up to 5 years of age—16 to 32 mg three or four times a day.

Children 5 years of age and over—32 to 64 mg three or four times a day.

For metharbital

For oral dosage form (tablets):

For control of seizures:

Adults—At first, 100 milligrams (mg) one to three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 800 mg a day.

Children—50 mg one to three times a day.

For pentobarbital

For oral dosage form (elixir or capsules):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—100 milligrams (mg) at bedtime.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—20 mg three or four times a day.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight per day.

For sedation before surgery:

Adults—100 mg before surgery.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kilogram (0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight, taken before surgery. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg.

For injection dosage form:

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—150 to 200 mg, injected into a muscle. Or, 100 mg injected into a vein, with additional small doses given if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 500 mg.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kg (0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle. Or, 50 mg injected into a vein, with additional small doses given if needed.

For sedation before surgery:

Adults—150 to 200 mg, injected into a muscle.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kg (0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg.

For control of seizures:

Adults—At first, 100 mg injected into a vein. Additional small doses may be given if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 500 mg.

Children—At first, 50 mg injected into a muscle or vein. Additional small doses may be given if needed.

For rectal dosage form (suppositories):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—120 to 200 mg inserted into the rectum at bedtime.

Children up to 2 months of age—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Children 2 months to 1 year of age—30 mg inserted into the rectum at bedtime.

Children 1 to 4 years of age—30 or 60 mg inserted into the rectum at bedtime.

Children 5 to 12 years of age—60 mg inserted into the rectum at bedtime.

Children 12 to 14 years of age—60 or 120 mg inserted into the rectum at bedtime.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—30 mg inserted into the rectum two to four times a day.

Children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 mg per kg (0.9 mg per pound) of body weight, inserted into the rectum three times a day.

For sedation before surgery:

Children up to 2 months of age—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Children 2 months to 1 year of age—30 mg inserted into the rectum.

Children 1 to 4 years of age—30 or 60 mg inserted into the rectum.

Children 5 to 12 years of age—60 mg inserted into the rectum.

Children 12 to 14 years of age—60 or 120 mg inserted into the rectum.

For phenobarbital

For oral dosage form (elixir, capsules, or tablets):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—100 to 320 milligrams (mg) at bedtime.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—30 to 120 mg a day, taken in smaller doses two or three times during the day.

Children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.9 mg per pound) of body weight three times a day.

For sedation before surgery:

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 1 to 3 mg per kg (0.45 to 1.4 mg per pound) of body weight.

For control of seizures:

Adults—60 to 250 mg a day.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 1 to 6 mg per kg (0.45 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight a day.

For injection dosage form:

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—100 to 325 mg, injected into a muscle or vein, or under the skin.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—30 to 120 mg a day, injected into a muscle or a vein, or under the skin, in smaller doses two or three times during the day,

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For sedation before surgery:

Adults—130 to 200 mg, injected into a muscle sixty to ninety minutes before surgery.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 1 to 3 mg per kg (0.45 to 1.4 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle or vein sixty to ninety minutes before surgery.

For control of seizures:

Adults—100 to 320 mg injected into a vein. The dose may be repeated if needed, but is usually not more than 600 mg a day. However, higher doses may be needed for certain types of continuing seizures.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, the usual dose is 10 to 20 mg per kg (4.5 to 9 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a vein. Later, 1 to 6 mg per kg (0.45 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight a day, injected into a vein. Higher doses may be needed for certain types of continuing seizures.

For secobarbital

For oral dosage form (capsules):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—100 milligrams (mg) at bedtime.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For daytime sedation:

Adults—30 to 50 mg three or four times a day.

Children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.9 mg per pound) of body weight three times a day.

For sedation before surgery:

Adults—200 to 300 mg one or two hours before surgery.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 2 to 6 mg per kg (0.9 to 2.7 mg per pound) of body weight one or two hours before surgery. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg.

For injection dosage form:

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—100 to 200 mg injected into a muscle, or 50 to 250 mg injected into a vein.

Children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 3 to 5 mg per kg (1.4 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg.

For sedation before dental procedures:

Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 1.1 to 2.2 mg per kg (0.5 to 1 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle ten to fifteen minutes before the procedure.

Children—Dose must be determined by your dentist.

For sedation before a nerve block:

Adults—100 to 150 mg, injected into a vein.

For sedation before surgery:

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 4 to 5 mg per kg (1.8 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle.

For seizures from tetanus:

Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 5.5 mg per kg (2.5 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle or vein. Dose may be repeated every three to four hours if needed.

Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 3 to 5 mg per kg (1.4 to 2.3 mg per pound) of body weight, injected into a muscle or vein.

For secobarbital and amobarbital combination

For oral dosage form (capsules):

For trouble in sleeping:

Adults—1 capsule at bedtime.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For sedation before surgery:

Adults—1 capsule taken one hour before surgery.

Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you are taking this medicine regularly (for example, every day as in epilepsy) and you do miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children since overdose is especially dangerous in children.

Store away from heat and direct light.

Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.

Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.

Store the suppository form of this medicine in the refrigerator.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

If you will be using this medicine regularly for a long time:

Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits.

Do not stop using it without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are using before stopping completely.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine .

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of the metyrapone test may be affected by this medicine.

If you have been using this medicine for a long time and you think that you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your doctor . Some signs of mental or physical dependence on barbiturates are:

If you think you or someone else may have taken an overdose of this medicine, get emergency help at once . Taking an overdose of a barbiturate or taking alcohol or other CNS depressants with the barbiturate may lead to unconsciousness and possibly death. Some signs of an overdose are severe drowsiness, severe confusion, severe weakness, shortness of breath or slow or troubled breathing, slurred speech, staggering, and slow heartbeat.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Even if taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert on arising. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert .

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) containing estrogen may not work properly if you take them while you are taking barbiturates. Unplanned pregnancies may occur. You should use a different or additional means of birth control while you are taking barbiturates . If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Confusion, mental depression, and unusual excitement may be more likely to occur in very ill patients

After you stop using this medicine, your body may need time to adjust. If you took this medicine in high doses or for a long time, this may take up to about 15 days. During this period of time check with your doctor if any of the following side effects occur (usually occur within 8 to 16 hours after medicine is stopped):

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Additional Information

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, phenobarbital is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:

Hyperbilirubinemia (high amount of bile pigments in the blood that may lead to jaundice)

Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.